While the Angels wait to see whether Ohtani heals enough to pitch this season, he can at least hit. Neither Eppler nor Manager Mike Scioscia would give any timeline as to how quickly Ohtani can progress from batting practice to playing in games, but he is clearly headed in that direction.

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“We’re excited,” Scioscia before the Angels played the Boston Red Sox on Thursday night. “It’s obviously a great first step to see the healing process. It’s terrific that he’s able to go out and swing and get where he needs to be to help us on the offensive side. We look for hopefully better things when he’s evaluated again to see when he can start throwing. There’s no doubt that it’s an exciting first step.”

Three weeks ago, Ohtani received a platelet-rich plasma injection and he underwent stem-cell therapy to treat the damaged ligament. Eppler said Ohtani would not have had to stop hitting at all if he’d only been a DH, but because the Angels also want to preserve his future as a pitcher, they gave him time off.

Now, they are confident that enough healing has occurred that he can begin hitting workouts without interfering with the continued healing. Ohtani is a right-handed pitcher and left-handed hitter, so the stresses are different enough that hitting doesn’t jeopardize his injured right elbow.

Ohtani was set to take regular batting practice on Thursday and Friday. Eppler said if that progressed well, he could face live pitching as soon as this weekend.

Eppler said Ohtani will not play in minor league rehab games. They will instead have him work his way back in simulated games or other controlled environments, which they can do because he doesn’t play in the field.

The news that he is on his way, at least as a hitter, was certainly a positive development for an Angels team wracked by injuries.

“Personally I was very pleased,” Eppler said. “You want to get as much of your 25-man roster that you break spring training with, you want to get as much of that back together as you can. He had been an important member of our club, on the mound and in the batters’ box. To hear that he can take the next step to rejoin our club as a hitter, that’s news I was hoping to hear.”

As Ohtani gets closer to a return to the lineup, it will beg the question of how the Angels plan to use him and Albert Pujols. When Ohtani was pitching, it provided a natural break of about three days a week when Pujols was the designated hitter. If Ohtani is only hitting, he could theoretically hit every day, but it would be difficult to ask Pujols to play first base every day.

“It’s going to work,” Scioscia said, without elaborating. “We are definitely going to get (Ohtani) in the lineup as much as we can.”

MORE HEALING

Garrett Richards (hamstring) is scheduled for a rehab assignment on Friday with Class-A Inland Empire.

If the Angels determine that one game is enough for Richards, he could rejoin the rotation as soon as next week in Seattle.

Jefry Marte (wrist) will also play in Friday’s Inland Empire game.

Mike Trout (sprained finger) felt good while throwing before Thursday’s game. He said he is hoping to return to center field on Friday in Baltimore. Trout has been the Angels’ designated hitter for the past nine games.

Trout, who has now been held without an extra-base hit for 13 straight games for the first time in his career, said he feels that being a DH has negatively affected his hitting. Trout is 6 for 28 with nine walks in those games.

“In between at-bats, not knowing what to do with myself,” he said. “I’m not making excuses, but it’s different. It’s tough. I want to be out there in center.”

JEWELL UPDATE

Jake Jewell, who had to be taken off the field on a stretcher in his third big league game on Friday, was diagnosed with a fractured right fibula, requiring season-ending surgery.

Jewell went to cover the plate after a wild pitch in the eighth inning on Wednesday, and he slid awkwardly, breaking his leg.

ALSO

To take Jewell’s spot, Eduardo Paredes was recalled for his eighth separate stint in the major leagues.

The Angels also recalled right-hander Taylor Cole, who had been signed as a minor league free agent during spring training. Cole had appeared in one big league game, with the Toronto Blue Jays, last year. He had a 4.53 ERA at Triple-A this year. Cole replaced infielder Nolan Fontana, who was optioned after one day. The Angels needed more bullpen coverage after relievers worked 4-2/3 innings on Wednesday. …

Zack Cozart, who is having season-ending shoulder surgery on Friday, was placed on the 60-day disabled list to create a spot on the 40-man roster for Cole. …

Jabari Blash was the only Salt Lake City player selected for the Triple-A All-Star Game. Blash was leading the Pacific Coast League with 22 homers and a 1.237 OPS.

Jeff Fletcher has covered the Angels since 2013. Before that, he spent 11 years covering the Giants and A's and working as a national baseball writer. Jeff is a Hall of Fame voter. In 2015, he was elected chairman of the Los Angeles chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America.